Fascinating Aida – Charm Offensive (Tour – Salford)

It is hard to believe that Fascinating Aida have been touring for more than thirty years. Time has not diminished them rather it seems that the three ladies just keep on getting better and better and their wit sharper than ever.

To being with, they would visit small theatres and civic halls but now they are packing out the much larger venues and justly so!

The visuals consist of Dillie’s grand piano centre stage surrounded by a few standard lamps (not to mention some very original footlights) looking for all the world as if we are in their front room.

But this is no Victorian parlour evening singsong. Some of the lyrics may make a maiden blush but for the rest of us it is an evening of great hilarity. And who but Fascinating Aida could start the evening with a song about waiting for death and be so funny?

It is almost a crime that these three should be so talented. All the music composed by Dillie Keane and virtually all the lyrics by FA members past and present. They can sing, be oh so funny chatting to the audience, play instruments (real and imaginary), have got killer timing and can move a bit!

In such a packed evening of gems it is hard to pick out highlights but Boomerang Kids, the Bulgarian Song Cycles and HSE struck chords but then so many of the songs really hit the target.

The three ladies work so well together but the show does allow for each to have their solo moment and each grabs the opportunity in such style. Ms Keane’s "Dogging" is a modern comedy classic; Ms Pulman’s "Heart out of Practice" is beautiful and Ms Anderson’s song is a show stopper.

Of course Fascinating Aida is renowned for the sharp comedy but in a second they can reduce the hysterical full house to deathly quiet with the poignancy of "Look Mummy No Hands’ and "Home."

And if such a great show is not enough you can meet the girls in the foyer afterwards and take home a CD or DVD to enjoy time and time again.

Charm Offensive is a delight. Go, see for yourself, In fact go twice to hear the bits you miss first time because you are laughing so much.

Fascinating Aida – Charm Offensive is currently on tour. For tour dates, click here.